Acid shampoo



Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,599,665 AGIDSHAMPOO Alfred W. Stephan, BaldwimN. Y., assignor to Natcon Industries,Incorporated;- New Yer-1d N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing.Application March 9, 1950, Serial NO. 148341 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a shampoo composition.

Desiderata in a composition which is designed to be used as a shampooare:

(a) That it be possessed of such detergent qualities as to enable itthoroughly to cleanse the hair and scalp washed therewith, withouthowever removing so much oil from the hair and scalp as to leave thesein excessively dry state;

(b) That it does not leave a scum or precipitate on the hair and scalp,but that it be rather readily and completely rinsable therefrom, leavingthe washed hair and scalp clean and free from dirt, inorganic salts andthe like;

That its acidity be less than pH=7 and preferably substantially the sameas that of the skin (pH=5.5-6) so that there is no chemical reaction, ora minimum of such reaction, between the skin and the shampoo, whereby ineffeet the shampoo is neutral to the skin;

(d) That it be stable in aqueous solution and form a stable and abundantfoam.

A primary object of the present invention is the embodiment of a shampoocomposition which adequately satisfies all the afore-enumeratedrequisites of a good shampoo composition.

This object-as well as other objects and advantages of the inventionwhich will be manifest to the skilled in the art from the presentspecificationis realized by the composition established according to thedetailed indications hereinafter set forth.

Thus, the presently-preferred shampoo composition is constituted by thefollowing ingredients: I

Per cent by weight Ammonium chloride 2.7 Water 55.0 Sipon L-20 (laurylsulfate) 33.4 Sorbitol-borate solution 8.9

Total 100.0

This shampoo has a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Three drops of such composition, in30 cubic centimeters of water will, upon shaking, yield a foam having avolume of about 110 cubic centimeters. Moreover, the foam does not beginto disintegrate under 20 to 30 minutes and will last approximately twohours. In use, it is completely and readily rinsable and leaves noresidue. It is thus clear that it satisfies the introductorilyenumerated desiderata.

A preferred method of compounding the composition is as follows:

The ammonium chloride is dissolved in the water, in the proportionsabove indicated. This has to be a homogeneous solution before thesorbitol-borate solution is added. Gentle stirring is effected duringthe addition of the latter. When a homogeneous mixture has beenproduced, the indicated quantity of Sipon IP20, aqueous lauryl sulfate,is added. Stirring is continued until complete homogeneity is realized.

The ammonium chloride effects the function of a viscosity-impartingagent. The quantity thereof may be increased or decreased as desired tovary the viscosity of the product, pro vided the other conditions hereinstipulated are maintained. The sorbitolborate exerts a buffer action tomaintain the desired pH magnitude. The quantity of this ingredient mayalso be increased to vary the pH, always however within the indicatedlimits (pH of 5.5 to 6, or less than 7). TheSipon L-20 is lauryl sulfatein liquid form. This is the detergent-proper of the composition. Itsstability in slightly acid aqueous medium adapts it excellently for thepurposes of the shampoo composition according to the present invention.

The sorbitol-boiate solution may preferably :be prepared as follows:

Dissolve about 4 parts by weight of boric acid in parts by weight ofwater, using heat if necessary to effect complete dissolution. Cool thesolution and then add 12 parts of a aqueous solution d-sorbitol(available on the market as Sorbo, product of Atlas Powder Company,Wilmington, Delaware).

The Sipon L-20 may be obtained from American Alcolac Corporation, NewYork, N. Y.

Thus, in accordance with the foregoing preferred method of compoundingthe composition, the ammonium chloride comprises about 3% by weight ofthe shampoo, the aqueous laryl sulfate (Sipon L-ZO) about 33% by weight,the 70% by weight aqueous solution of sorbitol-borate about 9% and waterabout 55% by weight of the shampoo composition.

Having thus disclosed the principle of the invention, in apresently-preferred embodiment thereof, and a preferred method of makingsuch embodiment, what is claimed is:

1. An acid shampoo which has a pH of more than 5.5 and less than 7, isstable in aqueous solution, forms a stable and abundant aqueous foam,and consists of about 3% of ammonium chloride, about 33% of laurylsulfate aqueous solution, about 9% of a 70% by weight aqueous solutionof sorbitol-borate and water.

2. An acid shampoo which has a pH of 5.5-6, is stable in aqueoussolution, forms a stable and abundant aqueous foam, and corresponds tothe following composition:

Per cent by Weight Ammonium chloride 2.7 Water 55.0 Lauryl sulfatesolution 33.4

70% by weight aqueous solution of sorbitolborate Total I 100.0

ALFRED W. STEPHAN.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file ofthis potent:

4 UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Atlas Sorbitol," Atlas PowderCo., Wilmington 99, Del., 1947, pages 2, 11 and 19.

1. AN ACID SHAMPOO WHICH HAS A PH OF MORE THAN 5.5 AND LESS THAN 7, ISSTABLE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION, FORMS A STABLE AND ABUNDANT AQUEOUS FOAM,AND CONSISTS OF ABOUT 3% OF AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, ABOUT 33% OF LAURYLSULFATE AQUEOUS SOLUTION, ABOUT 9% OF A 70% BY WEIGHT AQUEOUS SOLUTIONOF SORBITOL-BORATE AND WATER.